Nothing Christian about that letter

Randy FolseRichmond, Texas

Published: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 10:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 10:47 p.m.

The overt and blatant discrimination depicted in the letter to the editor published July 10 from Mr. Tommy Middleton, executive director of missions, Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, was reprehensible.

The rights and family values of minorities are no less important to us than those of the majority.

<p>The overt and blatant discrimination depicted in the letter to the editor published July 10 from Mr. Tommy Middleton, executive director of missions, Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge, was reprehensible. </p><p>The rights and family values of minorities are no less important to us than those of the majority. </p><p>Religion needs to remain a separate entity away from our civil rights. </p><p>Individuals who call themselves “Christian” yet cherry pick verses to use as a weapon against people unlike themselves are not very Christian at all.</p><p>On the contrary, this behavior is very harmful and sometimes unfortunately unbearable to our gay youth. Adolescence is hard enough to get through without vitriol spewed onto them.</p><p>The word “traditional” needs to be dropped as an adjective to our equal rights and family values.</p><p>The term “traditional” is not measurable; it is subjective to the interpreter and denotes that being different is wrong.</p><p>Discrimination veiled in religion is still discrimination. </p><p>If forcing my partner to pay gift taxes on our home upon my death somehow improves Mr. Middleton's marriage, perhaps he needs to revisit his marriage.</p><p>One-third of each of our salaries goes to the government as we must each file as a single male.</p><p>I believe that all Americans who pay taxes should be treated equally, and until then, we will continue to fight for our rights.</p>